Extensible buckle construction



Oct. 13, 1936. E. PRESTINARI EXTENSIBLE BUCKLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 5, 1 9 54 INVENTOR Ell/ gen P1 esiuuu L a 'ITORNEY Patented Oct. 13, 1936 uNlrso STATES PATENT OFFICE EXTENSIBLE BUCKLE CONSTRUCTION I Eugen Prestinarl, Summit, N. J., assignor to Gemex Company, Newark, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey 4 Application December 5, 1984, Serial No. 756,058

- 15 Claims. (Cl. 24-71) This invention relates to an expansible brace-' certain features of this invention, it might here let construction and more parti larly to n be pointed out that manyof the extensible expansible device to be included in a watch clasps or buckles of this general character have bracelet or the like. annoying, undesirable and inconvenient char- One of the objects of this invention is to proacteristics. For example, some of these buckles 5 vide a device of the above character which will are provided with projecting parts placed in be p p ca a thoroughly durable. such positions that they are apt to catch in Another object is to provide a device of the the cuff or sleeve of the wearer, thus being a above character of ready and inexpensive manuconstant source of annoyance and tending to facture. Another object is to-provide a device rip and otherwise damage clothes. In other 10 of the above character which may be conveniclasps of this general character, it is imp cntly and easily manipulated while in use upon sible to get a fine adjustment of the length of the wrist of the wearer. Another object is to the braceletwhile the links of the clasp are provide a device of the above character which in the extended position and it is necessary to has a pleasing appearance. Another object is adjust the clasp each time it is placed upon 15 to provide a device of the above character by the wrist of the wearer. Furthermore, some which the length of a braceletmay be varied of these clasps have an unsightly appearance between comparatively wide limits and in which due to their structure, as, for example, a longi- & fine a justme t Of t e engt y, neverthetudinal slot appearing in one of the side walls,

less, be achieved. Another object is to provide this slot also tending to catch in the wearer's 20 a device of the above character in which it is clothes. One of the objects of this invention possible o ac p a fi adjustme t- Of e is to provide a device of the above character length of the ce in e e e on by in which the above-mentioned difliculties as h mp d ponv i n xpe 0f app ywell as many others are successfully overcome.

ing pressure with the finger to one side of the Referring now to Figure 1 in detail, the op- 5 clasp. Another object is to provide a construcposite end links H) and II of a watch bracelet tion of the above character lacking small proor the like are shown connected to the various truding portions on the sides and top of the parts comprising my expansible clasp. Thus clasp whether the clasp be folded or unfolded. end link H is hingedly connected to a sliding Other objects will be in part obvious and in link generally indicated at l2, which is slidably 30 part pointed out hereinafter. mounted within a housing link generally indi- The invention accordingly consists in the fea-- cated at 13, while the end link I!) is hingedly tures of construction, combination of elements, connected to a link 14 which, in turn, is hingand arrangement of parts as will be exemplified edly connected to a link l5. Link I5 is slidably in the structure to be hereinafter described and mounted in a casing link I6 which is hingedly 35 the scope of the application of which will be connected to housing link 13, all as will be indicated in the following claims. more fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing in which is Still referring to Figure 1, a pair of pins ll shown one of, the various possible embodiments and I8 bridge the spaced side portions of links of my invention, H and I2, respectively, preferably being in- 40 Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of my device tegral parts thereof. Pins l1 and 18 are prefin an open position when associated with or erably connected by a clip member l9 extendconnected to a bracelet or the like; ing thereabout to hold the parts in hinged re- Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on an lationship. A pin 20 preferably extends through enlarged scale taken along the line 22 of the sides of link l4 and through an eye portion 45 Figure 1; 2| secured thereto andis thence connected at Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional its ends to the sides of link I0 thus forming a view of the housing link shown in Figure 1 taken hinged connection between end link I0 and along the line 33 of Figure 2; and link I 4. v V Figure 4 is a top plan view of another por- Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, housing 50 tion of the device shown in Figure 1. link l3 preferably consists of a top portion 22,

Similar reference characters refer to similar side walls 23 and 24, and inwardly extending parts throughout the several views of the drawflanges 25 and 26, thus forming longitudinal m channels 2'! and 28 in which link I2 is slidably ea As conducive to a clearer understanding of mounted.

and bridging the space therebetween;

A frame 23 forming a part of link I21 rests upon top 22 of the housing link I3 and has formed therein a cut-out portion 30. One edge I 2a of sliding link I2 preferably lies adjacent side wall 23 and formed thereon a hollow leg portion generally indicated at I5. Thus a pair of vertically disposed flanges 3| and 3M are disposed substantially at the ends of leg portion I5 (Figure 3) and a top flange 33 (Figure 2) extends inwardly from flanges 3I and 3Ia beneath flange 26 of housing link I3. Accordingly, flanges 3| and 3Ia together with top flange 33 form leg portion riding within the longitudinal channel 28 of housing link I3. Furthermore, as will be seen from a consideration of Figures 2 and 3, a longitudinal slot 32 is locatedin the side of leg portion I5 adjacent side wall 23. An upturned lip a is provided on top 22 of link I3 and is positioned within the cut-out portion 30 of link I2. Accordingly, the outward movement of link I2 (right hand movement as viewed in Figure 3) is limited by lip 20a.

The opposite side I21; of link I2 extends upwardly, inwardly, and thence downwardly (Figure 2) to form, in effect, a leg portion 34 slidably fitting within the longitudinal channel 21. Preferably, the dimensions of the sliding link I2 and housing link I3 are so proportioned that little relative movement in lateral directions exists therebetween although the parts are perfectly free to move longitudinally with respect to each other.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, an arm preferably resilient in character is located within leg portion 15 one end thereof being desirably connected to flange 3|. Accordingly arm 35 is free to move in lateral directions within leg portion 15 toward and away from slot 32 and substantially about its point of connection with flange 3I. A plurality of ratchet teeth 316 are cut or otherwise formed in the edge of resilient arm 35 adjacent slot 32 and have edges 31 at right angles to side wall 3| and edges 38 at acute angles to the same wall. The extremities of ratchet teeth 36 preferably extend'into longitudinal slot 32. A' finger piece 39 preferably forming a part of the free end of arm 35 extends through slot 32 to a point spaced from the outside face of wall 23 (Figure 3). Accordingly, arm 35 and teeth 36 move away from slot 32 when pressure is applied to finger piece 39.

Referring now to Figure 3, a pawl is preferably formed on side wall 23 by bending a piece of the side wall inwardly so that it extends within slot 32 to engage ratchet teeth 36 when arm 35 is in its normal position, the resiliency of arm 35 tending to hold the parts in this engaging relationship. The end 40a of pawl 40 is preferably beveled and parallel to edges 38 of teeth 36. Accordingly when sliding link I2 is pushed in a left hand direction as viewed in Figure 3, teeth 36 ride over pawl 40 but attempted movement of link I2 in a right hand direction as viewed in this figure is prevented by the engagement of one edge 31 of the teeth with the flat side of the pawl. However, by pressing the finger piece inwardly the ratchet teeth and the pawl are disengaged and the wearer will be able to move the sliding link in either direction. with ease.

Referring to Figure 3', housing link I3 has a pin 42 extending through side walls 23 and 24 casing link I6 has an eye portion 43 which fits about pin 42. As more clearly shown in Figure 1, link I6 is narrower than the distance between inwardly extending flanges 25 and 26 of housing link I3 and consequently link I61 may be folded over into nested position between these flanges.

Referring now to Figure 4, casing link I6 cornprises bottom portion I6a, side walls I6b and I60, and inwardly extending flanges 44 and 45 forming a longitudinal slot I6 closed at the end remote from link I3 by a part 41. Sliding link I5 fits within casing link I6 and its extending movement therein is limited by a lug 46 mounted on the end portion thereof nearest the housing link I5 and extending into slot I6.

Still referring to Figure 1, link I5 preferably has an eye portion 49 fitting about a pin 50. se-

cured to link I4 thus forming a hinged connection between links I4 and I5. Link I4 is provided with side walls 53 and 54 sufliciently spaced from each other to allow link I6 to flt therebetween. Accordingly, it will now be clear that link I5 may slide within casing link I6 after which link I6 may pivot about pin 42 and link I4 may pivot about pin I5 until link I6 rests within housing link I3. In this position link I4 flts over link I6 having its side walls 53 and 54 resting between the inwardly extending flanges 26 and 25 of housing link I3 and the side walls I61) and I6c of casing link l6. In this nested position, links I4, I5, and I6 are effectively contained within the housing link and the bottom portion I4a together with flanges 25 and 26 form the bottom side of the buckle. Furthermore, when in this position, links I4, I5, and I6 do not interfere with the extending and contracting movement of sliding link I2 as has been more fully described above. I

On sides 53 and 54 of link I4 there are a pair of projections 55 and 56 which snap past or catch under the edges of flanges 25 and 26 oi? housing link I3. Thus when links I4, I5, and I6 are folded into the nested relationship within the housing link I 3, they are held in this position against accidental displacement by projections 55 and 56. Preferably to disengage these projections from the flanges 25 and 26, I provide a flange 46 (Figure 4) projecting from the top portion of link I3. This affords means of lifting housing I3 up from links I4, I5, and I6 when the device is in position on the wrist of the wearer.

A bracelet having my extensible buckle applied thereto may he slipped over the hand of the wearer into position on the wrist while links I4, I5, and I6 are in the extended position shown in Figure 1. Next sliding link I5 may be moved into position within folding link I6 after which housing link I3 may be brought down upon links I6 and I4 to bring these links into a nested position within the housing link. Projections 55 and 56 snap under flanges 25 and 26 to hold the links in this nested position and the length of the bracelet may be further adjusted by pushing link I2 into housing link I3. If a bracelet of greater length is desired, it is merely necessary to apply pressure to finger piece 39 which, as described more fully above, allows link I2 to slide in either direction. After the desired length of the bracelet has been achieved, the bracelet may be removed from or placed upon the wrist at will without readjusting its length. However, should the wearer desire a readjustment of length, it may be accomplished regardless of the position of folding links I4 and IS with respect to the housing link. l3.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a thoroughly practical and efllcient construction and method in which the several objects hereinabove referred to, as well as many others, are successfully and practically accomplished.

.As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link having a top portion, side walls, and flanges extending inwardly forming longitudinal channels, a pawl on one of said side walls, a link slidably mounted in said housing link, said sliding link having a resilient arm fastened at one end to said sliding link adjacent one of the side walls of said housing link, said resilient arm having a plurality of ratchet teeth formed thereon in engagement with said pawl, and a finger piece attached to said resilient arm and extending outwardly to a point beyond one of said side walls.

2. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link having a top portion, side walls and inwardly extending flanges forming longitudinal channels, a pawl on said housing link, a link slidably mounted in said housing link, a member movably secured to said sliding link, a plurality of ratchet teeth on said member, said ratchet teeth being in engagement with said pawl.

3. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link member, said housing link member having a top portion, side walls and portions extending inwardly from said side walls, a pawl on one of said side walls of vsaid housing link member, a link member slidably mounted in said housing link member, a resilient arm on said sliding link member covered by one of said inwardly extending portions, a plurality of ratchet teeth on said arm engaging said pawl, a finger piece attached to said arm, and a plurality of link parts hingedly connected to each other and hingedly connected to one of said link members to fold into a nested position between and engage said inwardly extending portions of said housing link member whereby said link parts are out of engagement with said pawl, said arm and said ratchet teeth.

4. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link having a top portion and side walls, a pawl extending from one of said side walls, and a link slidably mounted in said housing link between said side walls, said sliding link having a top portion and sides, the side of said sliding link adjacent said pawl having a slot therein, an arm fastened to said sliding link and including a portion extending through said slot, a plurali'ty of ratchet teeth on said arm adjacent said slot and positioned to engage said pawl, and

means for moving said arm to disengage said teeth and said pawl. a

'5. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link member having a top portion and side 'walls, a link slidably mounted in said housing link, said sliding link having sides, one of said sides of said sliding link having a longitudinal slot therein, an arm member connected to said sliding link adjacent said slot, a plurality 5 of ratchet teeth on one of said members said ratchet teeth being nearer the slotted side of said sliding link than the other side thereof, a

pawl on the other of said members positioned to engage said teeth, and a finger piece attached to said arm member substantially at one end thereof and extending through said slot.

6. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link having a top portion and side walls, a link slidably mounted in said housing link, a pawl on one of said links, said sliding link having a top portion and sides, one of said sides, having a slot therein, an arm member movably secured to,the other of said links and having a portion extending through said slot, a plurality of ratchet teeth on said arm member, said arm being resilient to engage said ratchet teeth and said pawl.

7. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link having a top portion and side walls, a pawl on one of said side walls of said housing link, a link slidably mounted on said housing link, said sliding link having a top portion and sides, one of said sides having a slot therein, an arm member movably secured to said sliding link, a plurality of ratchet teeth on said arm member,

, and a finger piece attached to said arm member substantially at one end thereof and extending outwardly through said slot to a point beyond one of said walls of said housing link.

8. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link member, said housing link member having a top portion, side walls, and portions extending inwardly from said side walls, a pawl on one of said side walls of said housing link member, a link member slidably mounted in said housing link member, a resilient arm on said sliding link member covered by one of said inwardly extending portions, a plurality of ratchet teeth on said arm engaging said pawl, a finger piece attached to said arm, and a plurality of link parts hingedly connected to each other and hingedly connected to one of said link members to fold into a nested position between and engaging said inwardly extending portions of said housing link whereby said link parts are out of en-' gagement with said pawl, said arm and said ratchet teeth.

9. In an extensiblebuckle, in combination, a housing link member including a top portion and side wall portions extending therefrom, a link member slidably mounted in said housing link member, said sliding link member including side wall portions registering with the side wall por- --tions of said housing link member and being guided thereby when said link members are telescoped together, one of said link members having bottom portions extending toward one another in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said top portion of. said housing link member, said sliding link member having a longitudinal slot formed in one of its side wall portions, means forming a plurality of ratchet teeth extending into said slot, said means being movable with said sliding link member, a pawl side wall portions extending therefrom, a link member slidably mounted in said housing link member, said sliding link member including side wall portions registering with the side wall portions of said housing link member and being guided thereby when said link members are telescoped together, said sliding link member having a longitudinal slot formed in one of its side wall portions, means forming a plurality of ratchet teeth extending into said slot, said means being movable with said sliding link member, a pawl member related to said housing link member and adapted to engage said ratchet teeth to prevent relative movement between said link members, a finger piece extending through said longitudinal slot and related to one of said link members, said finger piece being movable transversely of said link members to disengage said pawl member. and said ratchet whereby the relative positions of said link members may be varied at will.

11. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link member including a top portion and side wall portions extending therefrom, a sliding link member telescopically related to said housing link member and having side wall portions registering with the side wall portions of said housing link member, said sliding link member having a longitudinal slot formed in one of its side wall portions, a resilient arm secured to the slotted side wall of said sliding link and having ratchet teeth formed thereon, a pawl member related to said housing link member adapted to engage said ratchet teeth to prevent relative movement between said link members, and a finger piece secured to said arm and extending through said longitudinal slot, said finger piece being movable to disengage said ratchet teeth from said pawl member.

12. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link member having a top portion and a pair of channels formed along the sides thereof, a link slidably mounted in said housing link member and having a pair of channels formed along the longitudinal sides thereof and adapted to fit within the longitudinal channelsformed upon said housing link, an arm member mounted in one of the channels of said sliding link, a pawl mounted upon one of said members, and a plurality of ratchet teeth mounted upon the other of said members, said arm being resilient tov engage said ratchet teeth and said pawl.

13. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link having a top section and :at least one longitudinal side portion, a link slidably mounted on said housing link, said sliding link including an arm portion, a pawl on one of said portions, a plurality of ratchet teeth on the other of said portions, said arm portion being capable of transverse movement with respect to said side portion to engage and disengage said teeth and said pawl, and a finger piece on said arm portion spaced from and free of said housing link when said sliding link is extended therefrom.

14. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link having a top portion and longitudinal side walls, a pawl on one of said side walls and extending inwardly therefrom, means forming a link slidably mounted in said housing link, said means including an arm member, and a plurality of ratchet teeth on said arm member adjacent said pawl, said arm member being capable of transverse movement with respect to said side walls to engage and disengage said pawl and said ratchet teeth, and a finger piece on said arm portion spaced from and free of said housing link when said sliding link is extended therefrom.

15. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link having a top portion, side walls along the longitudinal edges thereof and portions extending inwardly toward each other from said side walls and underlying said top portion, said side walls and underlying portions forming with said top portion longitudinal channels, means forming a sliding link adapted to slide within said housing link, said means including substantially parallel side parts connected together at at least one end thereof and respectively movably disposed for longitudinal reciprocation within said channels, at least one of said parts being resiliently movable toward and away from the other of said parts, a pawl on that one of said housing link side walls adjacent said resilient part, said pawl extending inwardly of said housing link, a plurality of ratchet teeth formed on said resilient part and positioned for ratcheting engagement with said pawl during movement of said sliding link into said housing link, and a finger piece secured to said resilient part and extending outwardly therefrom, said finger piece being positioned for inward pressure thereof whereby said ratchet teeth on said resilient part are moved inwardly away from said pawl to permit free extension of said sliding link from within said housing link, said finger piece being spaced from and free of said housing link when said sliding link is extended therefrom.

, EUGEN PRESTINARI. 

